Michael J. Fox to snare Camera

German award recognizes actor's achievements

BERLIN — Actor and Parkinson’s crusader Michael J. Fox will be feted by Europe’s leading TV magazine Hoerzu at the Golden Camera Awards in Berlin on Saturday.

Fox, star of the “Back to the Future” films and the hit TV series “Family Ties,” will be honored with the Golden Camera’s International Lifetime Achievement Award.

While praising the star’s movie and television career, Hoerzu said it also wanted to pay tribute to Fox’s work in raising awareness and funding for Parkinson’s research via the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

“Michael J. Fox was always able to make a special contribution to his movie roles using his youthful appearance, boyish charm and humor.

With this award, however, we want to do more than pay tribute to this actor’s artistic achievements that have entertained us for decades. We want to express our great admiration for the way he continues to fight Parkinson’s disease both personally and through the work of his foundation.”

Fox rose to fame during the 1980s as the conservative yuppie son of former hippie parents on the hit sitcom “Family Ties,” but it was his starring role in Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future” trilogy that solidified his superstar status. He later appeared in such films and shows as “Stuart Little,” “Spin City” and currently appears as a guest star on CBS’ “The Good Wife.”

Fox’s primary focus today is his foundation, which has raised nearly $225 million for Parkinson’s research since its launch in 2000.

Fox joins other high-profile Golden Camera recipients this year such as John Travolta, who has been named best international actor; German thesp Armin Mueller-Stahl, who is receiving the National Lifetime Achievement Award; and singer Gloria Gaynor, who will be honored with the lifetime achievement award for music.

The 46th Golden Camera ceremony will take place at the Ullstein Auditorium at the headquarters of the Axel Springer publishing group — Hoerzu’s parent company — and will be broadcast live on pubcaster ZDF.